New Delhi: The Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs (Independent Charge) & Parliamentary Affairs Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi visited Haryana yesterday. During his Mewat-Palwal visit, Shri Naqvi inaugurated 100 bed girls hostel in Hathin, staff quarters in Mewat Model School in Punhana Block, laid foundation stone of Higher Secondary School, Chilwali (Nuh) and also visited Mewat Model Girls School, Khanpur Ghati (Nagina) for inspection.
Shri Naqvi said that empowerment of minorities, poor, weaker sections is “Raj Dharma” of the NDA Government. Addressing a huge gathering during first mega “Progress Panchayat” at Bichor village in Mewat, Haryana, yesterday he said that this “Progress Panchayat” is nothing but a “draft of development”.
Shri Naqvi said that the battle against poverty will benefit the Minorities, especially Muslims the most as 75 % Muslims are living below poverty line.He said that poverty is the biggest challenge before Muslims and the biggest commitment of the Government is battle against poverty. Admitting that discrimination in the name of caste, religion and region still exist and is cause of suffering of weaker sections, he called for destroying this evil of discrimination and strengthen harmony in the society.
Informing people about schemes of the Minority Affairs Ministry, Shri Naqvi said that schemes such as “Seekho aur Kamao”, “Nai Manzil”, “Nai Raushni”, “Ustaad”, “Nai Udaan” are guarantee of empowerment of poor belonging to minority communities. Besides, “Pradhanmantri Jan Vikas Karykram” (MsDP) has been providing basic amenities such as school, hospitals, roads and other infrastructure in Minority concentrated areas. Employment oriented schemes are our priority. “Employment to every hand” is Government’s commitment.
Shri Naqvi said that Minority Affairs Ministry has been working on different strategies for welfare of Muslim community which include protection and development of waqf properties. Several states have been working well in this regard. There are 31 state waqf boards and more than 4,27,000 registered waqf properties across the country. Besides this, there are many non-registered waqf properties. Several waqf properties in some states are in clutches of “waqf mafias”.
He said a campaign on war-footing has been initiated by the Central Government to free waqf properties from illegal occupations across the country. This will enable to use these properties for welfare of muslim community and their socio-economic-educational empowerment.
Shri Naqvi said that to deal with complaints regarding waqf properties, one-man “Board of Adjudication” headed by a retired judge will be established soon at the Centre. Three-member tribunals are being established in the states.
Shri Naqvi said that the Central and Haryana Government have been working together for empowerment of poor, farmers, dalits and minorities. Several development works will be carried out on waqf properties in Palwal and Faridabad.
National Minorities Development & Finance Corporation (NMDFC) has provided financial assistance of about Rs 1723 crore during 11th and 12th plan which has benefitted more than 4 lakh people including about 10,000 people from Haryana. Under “Seekho aur Kamao” scheme, 2830 people have been trained.
Under restructured MsDP, 15 Minority Concentration Blocks (MCBs) falling in 6 districts (Kaithal, Mewat, Sirsa, Fatehabad, Yamuna Nagar and Palwal/Faridabad) of Haryana have been covered. The total tentative allocation for 12th Five Year Plan for MCBs of Haryana is Rs.7929.00 lakh. Till date, project proposals of Rs. 6098.78 lakh have been approved and Rs.3694.00 lakh (including 2nd installment) has been released by Govt. of India. Project proposals for Rs.1830.21 lakh are also under examinations which include Institute of Driver training and Traffic Research (ITDR) at Nuh and Studio Apartment at Punhana and Ferozepur Jhirka Block in Mewat District.
